Whatever have I done — not visiting with you since June. That’s terrible, and I apologize. I see that I last posted a Yaak Cabin construction photo . . . and that did really consume our summer.
Jery & I ‘moved in’ to the cabin in mid-August. While the inside was mostly done, there was still siding, 2 porches, a shed for the generator, etc – plus landscaping (??) to be done. Then we had more fallen trees to round up and burn, others that had dried after being hauled off the bridge debris, to be cut in lengths the tractor could handle – and bring home. Those are now chopped and split in our our winter woodshed.

We had TWO quilting retreats, and tested the process. All went quite well, so we’re ready for the ‘real’ retreats I’m hosting. I’m enjoying a winter of studying recipes to find the most delicious meals to serve our guests. Getting a good supply of those! (and learning which to NOT make again, too).

We came home – and home will remain in Eureka – in mid November, about the time the snow was beginning.  The pass which is the short route from the Yaak to Eureka was already closed, and our final trips were the 3-1/2 hour long way around.

Other BIG NEWS of the summer is a fabric collection proposal I made to Benartex, and they accepted.  The collection was completed by the end of November, and the designs are off for engraving.  It will be released at Market in May.  I’m not at liberty to discuss the specific details quite yet, though I can tell you that it is ‘pretty’ and the colors are clear, of course.

December has been mostly computer time – designing patterns to use with the new fabrics, as well as a new BOM, which I think is really gorgeous!  In due time, I’ll be able to share it all with you.

I’m working on another fabric proposal.  It really takes a long time.  The one from this past summer was mostly done in the Yaak – on the laptop, on batteries.  Batteries would run down, and I’d cover it with a towel to keep the sawdust out and plug it into the generator Jery was running to power his tools – to recharge.  Crazy, though it did provide me with ‘thinking’ time.  The Yaak cabin is ‘off the grid’ though now has it’s own power supply – that wasn’t there when I had the collection to design.  This new proposal is working easier because I’m home with my 2-screen setup, plenty of power, and time to draw, re-draw, and then draw it again and again with a mouse instead of a touch pad.  LOL.  Even with all those comforts, it stretches my imagination and some days causes wandering and muttering.

So – here it is, the last day of 2011.  I have a snazzy Poached Pear dessert to prepare and friends coming to help us enjoy it and a glass of wine this eve.

Happy New Year!

First – the Problem.  Spam messages have become an ‘issue’, so . . .  should you wish to comment (and it’s always terrific to hear from my friends) you know how to send an email.

Second – This post gave me an opportunity to show you the cabin interior with all the elec and plumbing roughed in.  And — the opportunity to share a Hank (kitten) story.  We started taking Hank with us two trips ago.  I bought a small harness and we rigged it so he had about 20 feet in which to get properly tangled before we had to come to his rescue.  Actually, each entanglement showed us how far we needed to move the 5 gal water jug he was tethered to – to avoid future tangles!  That’s all because cats don’t generally move easily — they need to be confined long enough to realize it’s a new home, etc.  Each night we put Hank, his litter box, food and water in the back of the enclosed pickup, so he’d be safe.  Well . . . last week Jery decided that the poor baby was a bit too confined, and suggested that we lock him in the cabin overnight, with all his gear.  Sounded good to me.  I figured he’d appreciate 1000 sq ft vs. the back of the pick-up.  Tuesday night we tried that.  Wed morning – early – like 5-ish- Jer stepped out of our camp trailer, and then came back in saying ‘cat’s out’.  Hank had somehow managed to get up in the rafters, then out over the top because the soffit isn’t there yet, and then dropped the 9′ to the ground.  Therefore, Hank is now ‘out’ for the night – each night.  He’s apparently being 100% cat, prowling most of the night, because his daytime naps are MUCH longer.  He’s taken charge of his destiny!

Our days (and nights) are mostly at the Yaak — working on the cabin. We’re ‘roughed in’ with plumbing and electric, and about to insulate before dry wall (only a week away!)

Sadly, I’m getting way too much spam at this blog . . . . please use our web page and follow the links to the cabin to see what’s up here.  I think I’ll need to end the blog because of spam.   sigh.

The 200% of normal snowpack is melting! This is the river at our cabin property. It’s easily twice as wide as normal, flowing rapidly. We know the bridge is damaged, and it has caught lots of debris — possibly beaver dam leftovers!
I’ve been at Quilt Market and just returned home yesterday. Jery has been working on the cabin. Stem walls are poured. He goes back today, and I’ll run over for a couple of days tomorrow, before heading off to visit both of my children plus attend a reunion in my home town.

A week ago we positioned the cabin – see the orange lines! The digging will begin on Monday. We’ve been waiting for the end of ‘break up’ so the county roads will allow the concrete trucks. That is supposed to end on Wed or Thurs of this week, so DIG! Probably two days to dig because of the boulders. Our boulder fence will grow, undoubtedly. Then Jason will form the footings and pour them on Thurs or Fri. Then foundation walls!! The flooring system is ordered, and it’ll be delivered sometime early the following week. Outer walls will be built in our local wall plant. Good Golly! It’s exciting.

Wouldn’t you know – I’m off to Quilt Market and will totally miss some of this fun.  You can see progress at  yaakcabin.com  (dig photos may have to wait until after quilt market)

Mother’s sale was successful.  We have the house empty and cleaned.  Will polish the wood floors and cabinets tomorrow morning before taking the Moms to Mother’s Day brunch.  After interviewing a handful of potential renters we decided to list it instead.  It’s really very nice and has numerous improvements & upgrades.  I hope it sees some activity, and a buyer!

Jery & I are just back from the Truss Company, where they are busy building OUR trusses for the Yaak Cabin. I’d never watched this process before – WOW! They have quite a plan to follow. This is the longest Truss — at one end of the Triangle.

REALLY anxious for all the snow and moisture to disappear so we can begin. It’s looking like June — there’s been SO MUCH moisture this winter.

Other news – my Mother is moving into her One bedroom apt (out of the Studio) on the 14th. She is SO excited . . . . That also means we’ll have the rest of her stuff moved, unpacked, etc. late next week. All those fancy. pretty dishes!

Weather permitting, we’ll have her ’sale’ the following weekend.

I head back to Bull River tomorrow for a sewing weekend with Barb. Remember? This is the place with the incredible food! My tummy says ‘YEA’

Jery & I went to the Yaak yesterday to meet with the electrician and a neighbor — topic being the power set-up for our off-grid cabin. We both learned a great deal, and it sent me home thinking about how to ‘light’ the place easily, and sometimes without using power. AHA! Kerosene lamps. Went to the alladdin lamp web page last night, and they have a GORGEOUS cobalt blue lamp . . . . Also went looking for light fixtures that would accommodate those cute new squiggly fluorescent light bulbs and found LOTS of pricey fixtures AND finally some that are affordable.
Back to the Yaak. There was certainly LOTS of snow on the ground. Probably about 18″ of compressed snow remains on our property. Rain yesterday undoubtedly settled it down a bit more.
It was a fabulous day . . . I think we’re both anxious to get it in gear!

This is the new NORTH FORK quilt – one of two – also for the Yaak Cabin. It’s a pattern – a companion piece to the Yaak River Cabin pattern – and they are off to be quilted.
In the meantime, it’s REALLY cold here. It snows and then the temps drop, drop, drop. Though this coming week is slated to have even more snow, and normal temps. Maybe it will be warm enough to enjoy. Driving around town – no snowmen. LOTS of snow. Just too cold to play in it.
Hank is adjusting well. While he still does some things which are no-no’s, mostly he’s a good boy. He’s growing rapidly, though still small. He must have been the runt of the litter. He’s bright and wiry, and exhibiting all the best stuff of a cat. Definitely fitting in here!

How could any thing that looks this sweet . . . . . . . . he’s been SO good for the past couple of days – staying on the floor where he belongs. This afternoon he wasn’t so good. Managed to jump way up to the top of our antique secretary. Then bumped Jery’s charming old upright clock. I heard the crash. Clock parts re-arranged, some no longer attached to the clock, glass broken. He’s really in the Kitty Dog House right now.

Here’s HANK! He came to live with us on the eve of Jan 17th — the shelter guessed he was then 10 weeks old. If so, sort of small. BUT – he’s making up / catching up / gaining by leaps and bounds! So many things to learn when you are a new kitten in a household. Toby did the expected eye roll, and we discovered that Hank had probably NEVER heard the word ‘NO’ before. 10 days later, he definitely understands ‘NO’ though loves to challenge it.  One of his favorite tricks is to bounce across the forbidden furniture en route to a different place on the floor. . . .  Hank is really very sweet.  Loves people, and will follow us all over the house.  His ‘rooms’ are the pattern company office / shipping room.  Nothing he can really hurt in there, and a solid door to contain him at night, etc.  This Pic was taken just as he was awakened from his afternoon nap, and he promptly went back to sleep.  This is a LONG nap today, so he’ll probably really be ‘full of it’ shortly!  Hank will stay indoors until he’s big enough to be somewhat safe from the Osprey, Owls, and Eagles . . . a few months.  Then, we’ll show him the wood piles and all the small wildlife that lives there.  He’s SO curious, I suspect he’ll be delighted.